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1. Professional Behavior
Educators shall behave as professionals
realizing that their actions reflect directly on
the status and substance of the education
profession.
An educator serves as a positive role
model to both students and adults and is
responsible for preserving the dignity and
integrity of the teaching profession and for
practicing the profession according to the
highest ethical standards.
Conduct unbecoming
to the profession includes,
but is not limited to, the following actions:
a) Failing to adhere to the
Licensure Code of
Professional Conduct for Ohio Educators
.
b) Committing any violation of state or federal
laws, statutes, or rules, although the conduct
may not have resulted in a criminal charge,
indictment, prosecution or conviction. (This
does not include traffic violations.)
c) Disparaging a colleague, peer or other school
personnel while working in a professional
setting (e.g., teaching, coaching, supervising,
or conferencing) on the basis of race or
ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender,
national origin, sexual orientation, political or
religious affiliation, physical characteristics,
age, disability or English language proficiency.
d) Failing to complete a criminal background
check as required by state or federal law.
e) Violating local, state or federal procedures
related to the security of standardized
tests, test supplies or resources.
f) Being disciplined by another state educational
entity or other professional licensing board or
entity for unethical conduct.
g) Using technology to intentionally host or
post improper or inappropriate material
that could reasonably be accessed by the
school community.
The disciplinary actions for violations of
Principle 1 can be found on Page 8.
2. Professional Relationship
with Students
Educators shall maintain a professional
relationship with all students at all times,
both in and out of the classroom.
An educator’s responsibility includes
nurturing the intellectual, physical,
emotional, social, and civic potential of all
students and providing a safe environment
free from harassment, intimidation and
criminal activity. An educator creates,
supports, and maintains an appropriate
learning environment for all students and
fulfills the roles of trusted confidante,
mentor and advocate for students’ rights.
An educator must serve as a champion
against child abuse and be cognizant
of student behaviors that suggest abuse
or neglect.
Conduct unbecoming
includes, but is not
limited to, the following actions:
a) Committing any act of sexual abuse of a
student or minor or engaging in
inappropriate sexual conduct with a
student or minor.
b) Committing an act of cruelty to children or
an act of child endangerment (e.g., physical
abuse, mental injury, or emotional abuse).
c) Soliciting, encouraging, engaging or
consummating an inappropriate
relationship with a student or minor.
d) Disparaging a student on the basis of race
or ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender,
national origin, sexual orientation, political or
religious affiliation, physical characteristics,
academic or athletic performance, disability
or English language proficiency.
e) Using inappropriate language, gestures
or signs at any school-related activity
such as racial slurs, biased, lewd or
lascivious expressions.
f) Provoking an altercation between students,
or provoking or engaging in a physical
altercation with students, that is not for the
Licensure Code of Professional Conduct for Ohio Educators
page 2